Loan watch: Jermaine Beckford scores as Preston drop points

Forward opens scoring as Lilywhites lose ground in League One promotion chase

Jermaine Beckford fired home his tenth goal for Preston North End as they conceded a two-goal lead to draw against Gillingham at Deepdale.

On the same night league leaders Bristol City secured their own promotion to the Championship, Beckford combined with Joe Garner to give Preston the lead before Callum Robinson doubled the Lilywhites’ lead on the stroke of half-time.

However, Jermaine McGlashan halved the deficit from range just before the hour-mark before Leon Legge headed home in stoppage-time to seal an unlikely point.

Elsewhere in the League One promotion hunt, Rob Hall completed 75 minutes for third-placed MK Dons as they recorded a 3-0 victory away at Fleetwood Town to narrow the gap on second-placed Preston.

Also in the English third tier, Sanmi Odelusi came on for the final ten minutes while Conor Wilkinson was an unused substitute as Coventry City scored a last-minute equaliser to draw 1-1 at home to Oldham Athletic.

In the Championship, Jay Spearing completed 90 minutes for Blackburn Rovers as they twice conceded the lead to draw 2-2 away at Birmingham City.

Niall Maher was also in action for Blackpool, completing 54 minutes for the relegated side before being substituted as they fell to a 4-0 defeat away at promotion-chasing Derby County.

In League Two, Tom Eaves came for the final 30 minutes for Bury as former White Joe Riley’s long-range strike secured a 1-0 home victory for the Shakers.